Automobile license sign



March 9 1926-. 1,516,157

C. F. TAYLOR AUTOMOBILE LICENSE SIGN Filed Feb. 21, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 9 1926. 1,576,157

c. F. TAYLoR AUTOMOBILE LICENSE SIGN Filed Feb. 21,1922 '2 sheets-sheet v2 Patented Mar. 9, 19.26.

UNITED `STATES CHARLES F. TAYLOR, on noia'runa, cALiFoRNIA.

AUTOMOBILE Lionivsn sian.

Application filed February 21, 1922. Serial No. 538,178.

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known that I, CHARLES F. TAYLOR,`

a citizen of the United States, residing at Fortuna, in the county of Humboldtl and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile License Signs, of which the following is a speciiication.

One object of my said invention is the provision of an automobile license. sign adapted to display an illuminated license number in such manner that the same can be readily discerned in the dark as well as in the daylight, the license' number being colored as required by law, and the construction of the device being such as to lend itself to variously coloring the license number so that the color displayed may meet the requirements of a particular State.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction whereby the lamp or lamps employed to illuminatethe license number are also used to illuminate a red taillight lens.

To the attainment of the foregoing, the invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specificatioiu- Figure 1 is a rear elevation illustrating my novel sign as ready to be properly positioned on the rear portion of an automobile.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line i--l of Figure 1. Y

Figures 5 and 6 are sections of a modification, Figure 6 being taken on line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in Figures 1 4.

Among other elements my novel sign coniprises a casing 1v equipped in the manner illustrated or in any other appropriate manner for attachment to the rear portion of an automobile.

In the said casing 1 are arranged lamps 2 which are preferably, but not necessarily, incandescent electric lamps as illustrated.

Carried as illustrated or in any other approved nianner at the rear portion ofthe casing 1 is the number plate 3, formed by the movable rearcasing or closure wall; the

said plate being preferably of metal and being designated a number plate` because a license number indicated by l is cut therein and throughout the thicln'iess thereof so that the light from the lamps2 will shine through the numerical iigures and render the saine plainlyvisible at night Vas well as in the day time. Iwould also have it understood that the plate 3 will preferably have cut through the same, the number 22, indicating the year of the license as well as the abbreviation of the name of the State issuing the license Gal, for instance, Figure 1. In addition to the openings described, the plate 1 is provided adjacent to one of its ends with a circular opening 5 which extends throughout the thickness of the plate. The said closure wall of the casing has its iinperforate portion Vdesignated by 6 land may be associated with-the casing and` may besecured in closed position in any appropriate manner without involving departure from the scope of my invention as defined in my appended claim. I prefer, however, to hinge the movable closure Vplate'or wall 1X' and to detachably 3 to the casing l at secure theV plate or wall in closed position by a fastener such as-7.. n

Secured at 8 in a frame carried by the plate or wall 3 is the colored pane of glass 9 comprised in my improvement, the said glass 9 being colored according to the re-` quirements of the particular State wherein the sign is to be used. In the illustrated example the glass 9 is of orange color and hence the license number will be given that color. It will be noted, however, that'the frame 8 is so constructed and `detachably connected to the casing 1, `Figure 3, that the glass 9 may be expeditiously and easily removed therefrom and a glass of another color maybe as readily placed and secured in the frame and casing.

Inserte-d in the opening 5 of the platev ,or wall 3 is a disk 10 of red glass. This disk 10 is arranged in communication with the casing interior and hence will be illuminated and enabled to serve as an eihcient taillight. l Y i Maiiifestly when 'desired the said taillight may be provided by inserting a disk 10X of red colored glass, Figures 5 and 6, in the colored pane of glass 9X, in coincidence with a portion 5", of clear glass, carried in the apertured plate or casing wall 6X as shown in Figure 6, ormerely in coincidence with a order to impart a full,"A clear circular opening in said plate or wall 6*.

It will be apparent rfrom the foregoing that my novel license sign is materially advantageous for the reasons.v stated and yet is simple in construction and well' adapted to withstand the exposure and usage to which license plates are Ordinarily subjected. t I

I have entered into a detaile-d description of the construction andl relative arrangement of the-'parts embraced in the present and preferred"embodiment of my invention in and exact understanding of the. saidembodiment. not desire, however, to be understood as con-r fining myself to the said: specific construction andrelative arrangement of parts inasmuch as in the future practice of the invention various changes and modifications maybe made such as fallwithin the scope of my invention as defined in my appended claim.V

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: t

An illuminated license sign holder oomprising an elongated parallelepiped casing, a

said casing including a door which forms and indicia,

I do

the forward side thereof, said door being hinged to the bottom wall of the casing, and when in closed position adapted to bear at its inner side against the forward edges of the bottom, top and end walls of said casing, said' door being formed with a plurality of openings of sponding to the sha-.pe of suitable numerals a glass plate mounted on and against the inner `side of the door, over the portion. formed. with said opening to provide abacking therefor, and a fastener having a pair of hinged members, one of which 1sk fixed to the free edge portion ofthe door, at the central' portiony of the upper edge vof said door, andthe other'hinged' member adapted to swing over the top wall of the casing, and a screw carried by the last mentioned hinged member of the fastener adapted to threadably engage an opening in the top wallof the casing and draw the-*hingedmember toward the casing andi-the door predetermined form, `corre-' tightly against the forward edges of said casing.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.` Y'

` .CHARLES r. marron; 

